Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-05
IN A BURNING MINE.

IN A BURNING MINEe
Fully One Hundred and Fifty Miners
1mprfsOned at NanaimO, B. C.-Little
Hope that they will be Rescued alive
Thirteen known to be Dead. g.
NANArNo, B. c., May 5.-An day yesterday gangs
OF men were engagedin strenuous efforts TO subdue
the flames In No. shaft OF the Victoria Coal Co.
where an explosion occurred on Tuesday night.
At pm. IL Was thought that they had the FIRE
under control The Merriweather steam FIRE
engine engine did good work: pumping water from the
harb0r down the shaft, the hand fire-engine hav-
ing been taken down the mine to night the fire
from the level. II will be impossible TO make an
attempt 70 get at the imprisoned men until the fire
is subdued for 10y doing SO it would drive the gas
on to the fire and cause a second disaster There
Is but little hope OF rescuing the men alive, but
enort Will be made at the rrst possible moment to
reach the imprisoned miners. over one-half or
the injured and imprisoned men leave wives and
families TO mourn their untimely end.
THIRTEEN KNOWN TO BIZ KILLED so FAR
The names OF those Killed and injured and those
now I'm the ill-fated mine are as follows:
Dead-Wm. Davis, Jno. Linn, Jno. smith, VIM
ing, who formed one OF the rescuing party, died
from the effects OF the afterdamp. Seven China
men were brought up dead.
The injured are Geo. Davis. Jno. Jones' J. Stove
ST., Jno. Lynch and Jules Michael Rich. Gibson
the oyerman OF the mine, miraculeusy escaped
with a few cuts about the face Following is list
OF those now imprisoned in the mine, as nearly
correct as can be obtained at present:
THE IMPRISONED MEN
George Bowden, George simmons, T. Martin
Davis Ellis and his son Arthur. Benz. Popplewen
Morgan, Edward wilkins Edwin Benton. man
named Wobank, James Campbell John Malcolm,
Robert Burlington, j. McGuffie, Kobt FallOn. Jas
Milton, WIN. Bene. VIM. Gilbert, John Richards. j.
Forest, Jos Thompson, Michael Lyons, Andrew
Hunter, John Meakin, ST, Andrew Muir W. Camp
Perry, Robt. Nicholson, Jonathan Blundell, george
Biggs, George Dawson, I. Hughes, Charles Drake,
c. Wits, VIM Hogue, Jas Lyons John THOMPSON,
Alex. Mcdonald, VIM. Scales Frank Tulley, VIM.
stephenson, A. Meakim, j. German, VI. Corcoran
Malcolm Mclean. Peter Bucca, JOS Tollardo, Nich-
olas Johns, Roder1ck Mcdonald, W. j. Morgan, s
II. Meyers, I. Allen, II. Brum, Geo. Old. Abraham
Lewis, John Wobank, Chlpey Wobank, Evan Jones,
Thomas Evan, VIM and Jas. Davey, j, ii. westfet,
Arch Muir, Henry Lee and his son Hudson Lee
Robt. and John Stove, VIM. Ridley, Jos. and An
drew Martin, Ole Bertram, Herbert Bevilockway,
VIM Lukey, ST., ana VIM. Lukey, 1r., Jas. Hogan,
j. Byers, and JAS. Isbister.
ALARGE NUMBER OF CBINAMEN IN THE NINE
1t is estimated that there are between fifty and
seventy 1--WE Cinnamon ia the mine.
jules Michael, one OF the injured stated that he
was sitting in his cabin at supper In No. = shaft
He felt the conclusion. All scrambled out. He
became insensible Only one OF his four compan-
ions was saved The dead bodies OF the others
came up In the cage with him. Several OF those
rescued hardly appreciate their miraculous escape
owing to the dazed feeling which characterized ali
who came out from the deadly pit. Michael was
only fifteen yards from the entrance TO the shaft
when the explosion occurred. He represents IL as
John Lynch was badly injured about the face
and hands and had his hip fractured. His mind
has been wandering since the accident. Ii is
thought that he will not recover. The others were
not Seriously injured. though badly shaken up.
Samuel HudSonS heroic d. tn is unaccountabe
He was miner OF great e.s9arience, while those
who went down with him ~ rescue their fellows
were comparatively Inexperienced. He died from
the effects OF after-damp. His brave deed is one OF
the bright things in this carnival OF misery. All
day yesterday gangs of men were endeavor1ng to
exunguish the flames in No. shaft, and the fire
there is believed now TO be under control. Fears
are entertained OF second explosion OF gas which
say that such result Is possible. Ii so the catas-
trophe would be the greatest recorded ia the his
tory OF coal mining.
NO HOPE OF REscUING THE IMPRISONED MEN,
All hope OF reScuing any one In the mines has
been long ago abandoned. IL is thought that all
the men can do is being done to reach them. lt
was at first thought OF cutting ditch to the salt
water, as to attempt to put out the fire In No
shaft by turning stream OF water into it. but the
scheme was abandoned. IL would only food the
mine, rendering IT practically useless sor year
and would Danish any hope there might be OF saw
ing the lives Of the men. The mines extend out
from the shore more than a mile beneath the
waters OF the harbOr, and as one looks over the
placid waves he cannot imagine that beneath are
Imprisoned many dead fathers and sons OF eighty
families OF this little city. Around the shaft
THE SCENES ARE NARROWING IN THE EXTREME
As each cage comes UP anxious faces look Tor glad
tidingS that never come and the hope that there
is a prospect for the dear ones who died at the
Scott, OF the Wellington mines went down yester-
day afternoon, at the imminent risk Of their lives
to endeavor to make an investigation Us 10 the
manner OF procedure.
CITY IN MOURNING.
A pail hangs over the city. Business houses are
closed, collieries shut up, and the entire popua-
ton is gathered at the scene OF the disaster
Frantic wives, terror stricken children, and sor-
rowing fathers hover In the vicinity and mourn
over their terrible af1liction. Occasional showers
OF rain cast drearinesS over the already CHASTITY
no inn min ..n alA
settlers. Their faces were familiar on the city's
Streets and there Will be many void In the homes
OF the people 1t is almost impossible that any Of
the men can have survived, though many cling to
the hope that some few may be taken out alive
The people do not yet begin to realize the extent
Of the calamity.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
is as yet unknown. 1t is supposed to have been
caused by the explosion OF coal dust, similar to
that which occurred in the Queen Pacific. The
attendance on the dead and suffering I'm the
morning was bad. One drunken fellow seemed to
be in charge and acted In a brutal manner. He,
however, was soon dismissed. The injured are
doing We'll The female relatives OF the unfor-
tunate miners are frantic with grief: Women
with babies claSped TO their boSOmS walk up and
down in front OF the shaft. sobbing and moaning.
SwarTnS OF terrified Chinese are on the grounds.
One-half the dead, injured and imprisoned men
leave widows and families. II was believed at
late hour last night that the fire in the air draft
had been extinguiShed, and that only q small
body OF flame existed between the air and the
main shaft, which would probably be conquered
tO-uay, Wnen an alUeInpC VIII De Lnaue W lorcc
air In and the work Of rescue will begin.
CIINGING 10 DESPERATE HOPE.
By tonight 1t is hoped that the men win be
reached. One woman. In conversation last night,
lamented the loss OF her husband, father, and
brother-her all. She had given up all hope, and
only prayed to see her dead husband once more.
Hers is only one OF many cases. The shift that
came up late last night reported hearing evidence
OF pick striking on the Opposite side OF the wall.
The feeling now s.that while there is life there's
hope, /" but that the hope is very faint.
INSCRIBED .srO RERLIN.,,
An Anti.Germam Mob With a SugveS.
tive Banner ParadeS i'm Paris.
PARIS, May 5.-AnttlGerman demonstrations
continue to be made In various sections OF this
city. A procession, carrying banner inscribed
''TO Berlin, to-day marched to the palace OF the
ElySee the residence OF President Grevy, where it
was dispersed by the police. Twelve OF the per-
sons who took prominent parts In this demonstra-
uOn were arrested.